Have you ever found yourself needing to get a screw out of a wall or device but you didn’t have a screwdriver on hand? Did you realize that you had the wrong-headed screwdriver for the miniature screws you need to remove? What if there was a way to remove tiny screws without a screwdriver?
Good news — there are a few screwdriver alternatives.
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For Single-Slot Screws
If you’re dealing with a single-slot screw, head to your kitchen or wallet for an alternative to a screwdriver. The first thing you could try is a kitchen knife. Choose one that has a rounded tip like a butter knife or a small knife that you would use for a cheese board. Take the blade tip and angle the handle down toward the ground to give yourself some leverage. If you don’t have a butter knife on hand, try a dime. A dime is actually thin enough to fit in most sling-slots. Try turning the screw with your hand, but if you can’t grip it, try turning it with a pair of pliers.
For Philips, Torx, and Robertson Screws
If you have a small flat head screwdriver on hand, you might be able to use that as an screwdriver alternative. But, if you don’t have a screwdriver at all, you can try a few different household items. Sometimes, nails have a burr on the end of them so they can be used as a replacement screwdriver. Grasp the nail with a pair of pliers to turn it. You can even try using a hammer to tap the nail into the tiny screws, improving the grip. You could also try working with a drill and drill bit. Take the same hammer you used for the nail and tap the drill bit into the screw. Take the drill and attach it to the bit and start powering the tool.
Screws are commonly used in many different projects, just like fasteners. In fact, more than 200 billion fasteners are used every year in the United States. But, just because you don’t have a screwdriver, that doesn’t mean you can’t remove a screw. Take a look at a few of the suggestions listed above for some alternatives for how to remove a screw without a screwdriver.